Clothes drying machine



7, 4 c. E. ERICKSON "2,686,373

CLOTHES DRYING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1952 INVENTOR.

Clifford E. Erickson Patented Aug. 17, 1954 CLOTHES DRYING MACHINE Clifford E. Erickson, Chicago, 111., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application August 8, 1952, Serial No. 303,226

5 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to clothes drying machines of the home laundry type and more particularly to improved clothes drying machines of the general character disclosed in the copending application of Glenn D. Graham, Serial No. 211,415, filed February 16, 1951.

The clothes drying machine disclosed in the Graham application mentioned is of the home laundry type and comprises a substantially horizontally disposed and rotatably mounted drum having a substantially cylindrical perforated Wall and adapted to receive clothes to be dried, a casing enclosing the drum and cooperating therewith to define a passage therebetween including first and second chambers respectively disposed adjacent to the top of the drum and adjacent to the bottom of the drum, and an electric motor for rotating the drum in order to tumble the contained clothes and to produce circulation of a current of air from the first chamber through the drum into contact with the contained clothes and thence into the second chamber and back into the first chamber. An electric heating element is arranged in the first or heating chamber in order to heat the current of air passing therethrough. A hole is formed in the casing adjacent to the second chamber; a nozzle supported exteriorly of the casing is directed toward the hole and arranged to project a stream of cool water through an air gap and thence through the hole into the second chamber; and a target is arranged in the second chamber in the path of the stream of cool water so that it intercepts and breaks up the stream of cool water into a finely divided spray of the cool water in the second or condensing chamber so as to cool and to scrub the current of air passing therethrough. Also an inlet conduit connected to the nozzle is arranged exteriorly of the casing and normally supplied with cool water under gauge pressure from the city water main, the inlet conduit also including a valve selectively operative to control the supply of the cool water therefrom to the nozzle. In the arrangement, the air gap disposed exteriorly or" the casing between the end of the nozzle and the hole in the casing serves the vacuum breaker function, admitting atmospheric air through the nozzle into the inlet conduit in the event of the abnormal condition of a subatmospheric pressure therein, thereby positively preventing backsiphoning of process water from the second or condensing chamber into the city water main. A sump is formed in the bottom of the casing below th second chamber in order to accumulate the water, as well as condensate and lint that 2 are condensed and scrubbed from the current of air as it passes through the second or condensing chamber. A drain opening is formed in the bottom of the sump; and a pump is provided that communicates between the drain opening and the exterior, the pump being operated by the motor for the purpos of discharging to the exterior the water and the condensate and the lint accumulating in the sump. Finally, the machine is provided with an enclosed housing including a front wall provided with a front opening affording access to the front end of the drum and carrying a front door operatively associated with the front opening.

While the combination anti-back-siphon and spray-former arrangement in the clothes drying machine of the Graham application is quite satisfactory for accomplishing the two corresponding functions, it is subject to the criticism that under certain conditions in the cycle of operation of the machine some vapor escapes from the second or condensing chamber through the associated hole in the casing to the exterior, which escaping vapor upon contacting the cooler parts of the enclosing housing effects the formation of some condensate thereon that ultimately drips upon the supporting floor in the laundry room in which the machine is located, in a highly objectionable manner. This escape of the vapor from the condensing chamber through the associated hole in the casing occurs only occasionally and is believed to be caused, at least in part, by the tumbling action of the clothes in the drum, whereby occasionally the pressure in the condensing chamber momentarily exceeds the atmospheric pressure causing a puii of the vapor to be expelled through the hole mentioned.

Accordingly, it is th general object of the present invention to provide in a clothes drying machine of the character described, a combination anti-back-siphon and spray-former arrangement that further incorporates baifie structure that positively prevents the escape of vapor from the condensing chamber through the associated hole in the casing to the exterior during operation of the machine, and the consequent formation of condensat exteriorly of the casing and within the enclosing housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved and unitary assembly of the nozzle and the target and the bafile so that proper positioning of these elements in the machine is rendered simple and economical.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved assembly of the elements mentioned that accommodates final adjustment of the position of the target in the inner end of the baffle in order that the configuration and disposition of the spray of cool water in the condensing chamber may be appropriately adjusted.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the clothes drying machine, whereby the aboveoutlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a lateral sectional view of a clothes drying machine of the home laundry type embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the clothes drying machine;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary lateral sectional view of the lower portion of the clothes drying machine, as shown in Fig. 1, and taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 3-3 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the lower left-hand portion of the clothes drying machine, as shown in Fig. 2, and taken in the direction of the arrows along the offset line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the unitary assembly of the nozzle, the target and the baffle, as well as the supporting bracket and is incorporated in the clothes drying machine, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4; and

Fig. 6 is a further enlarged fragmentary plan view of the right-hand end of the assembly, as shown in Fig. 5, illustrating the arrangement for adjusting the position of the target in the inner end of the associated baflle.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the clothes drying machine I there illustrated is of the home laundry type and of the general construction and arrangement of that disclosed in detail in the previously mentioned Graham application, and embodies the features of the present invention with reference to the cool water supply to the casing thereof, as more fully explained hereinafter. Specifically, the machine IIl comprises an upstanding housing, not shown, that encloses an upstanding casing II, that, in turn, encloses a substantially cylindrical drum I2 that is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis disposed in a substantially horizontal position. The drum I2 includes a substantially cylindrical perforated side wall I3, a substantially circular imperforate rear end wall I4, and a substantially circular front end wall I having a substantially centrally disposed front opening, not shown, formed therein and affording access to the interior of the drum I2. The housing, not shown, that encloses the casing II, is provided with a front wall having a front opening formed therein and affording access through the front opening provided in the front end wall I5 into the interior of the drum I2; which housing also carries a front door, not shown, operatively associated with the front opening formed in the front wall thereof. The drum I2 is mounted for rotation upon a suitable stub shaft, not shown, that is secured to the rear end wall I4 thereof and is rotated by an electric motor, not shown.

The casing II comprises complementary upper and lower sections I6 and I! that are suitably detachably secured together; and a baffle I8 is arranged below the bottom of the drum I2 and partially within the lower section IT. The general configuration of the casing II is scrollshaped so that it cooperates with the cylindrical side wall I3 of the drum I2 to provide a fan casing so that the mere rotation of the drum I2 in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, brings about the circulation of a current of air through the drum I2 and through the casing II. More particularly, a baflie I9 is arranged in the upper right quadrant of the upper casing section I6 and cooperates therewith and with the associated cylindrical side wall I3 of the drum I2 to define a first or heating chamber 20 adjacent to the cylindrical side wall I3; which heating chamber 20 has a plurality of electric heating elements 2I disposed therein. In the arrangement, the baflle I9 also constitutes a heat reflector for the purpose of reflecting radiant heat from the electric heating elements 2I onto the cylindrical side wall I3 and through the perforations therein onto the clothes contained in the drum I2; and the upper casing section [6 carries a layer of thermal insulation I611. The lower casing section I'I cooperates with the baffle I8 to define a second or condensing chamber 22 therebetween; and the opposite ends of the baffle I8 terminate short of the adjacent portions of the casing II in order to define two spaced-apart and communicating passages 23 and 24 therebetween. Further, the cylindrical side wall I3 of the drum I2 comprises a plurality of substantially equally spaced-apart inwardly disposed clothes tumbling vanes 25, three being illustrated, that bring about tumbling of the clothes, indicated at 26, when the drum I2 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. The vanes 25, and the clothes 26 tumbling in the drum I2, also assist in the circulation of the current of air through the drum I2 and within the casing II; whereby the current of air is circulated from the heating chamber 20 through the drum I2 into contact with the contained clothes 26 tumbling therein, and thence via the passage 23 through the condensing chamber 22, and then via the passage 24 back into the heating chamber 20.

The current of air is heated and dried in the heating chamber 20 by the electric heating elements 2I, whereby the clothes 26 tumbling in the drum I2 are heated and dried by the current of air. In the condensing chamber 22, a spray of cool water is provided, as explained more fully hereinafter, whereby moisture contained in the current of air is condensed therefrom and accumulated in the bottom thereof, that also constitutes a sump, as indicated at 21. Also, the spray of cool water in the condensing chamber 22 scrubs the current of air circulated therethrough removing contained lint; whereby the water, the condensate, and the lint accumulate in the sump 21 and are removed to the exterior of the machine Ifl via a drain conduit 28 that is connected to an associated pump 29, that is also driven by the electric motor, not shown, and provided with a discharge conduit 30 associated with a laundry tray, or other drain plumbing arranged in the laundry room in which the machine I0 is located.

Also the machine I0 comprises a cooling water supply system including an inlet conduit 3| that is adapted to be supplied with cool water under gauge pressure from the city water main, a communicating fixture 32 housing a strainer, not shown, a communicating flow regulator 33, a communicating control valve 34, a communicating tube 35, and a communicating jet nozzle 36. The

control valve 34 is of the solenoid type being provided with a solenoid, indicated at 31 A hole 38 is formed in the lower portion of the rear wall of the casing H in cooperating relation with the condensing chamber 22. More particularly, a fixture 39 comprising a substantially rectangular base 40 is arranged outside of the rear wall of the casing ll adjacent to the hole 38 and suitably secured thereto, a gasket 4!, formed of rubber or the like, being arranged between the base 40 and the adjacent surface of the rear wall of the casing 'l I. Also the fixture 39 comprises a rearwardly directed substantially U-shaped bracket 42, the intermediate portion of which is threaded and carries the jet nozzle 36. Further, the fixture 39 comprises a forwardly directed bushing 43 projecting through the hole 38 formed in the rear Wall of the casing l I and extending into the condensing chamber 22, the bushing 43 having a centrally disposed opening 44 formed therein and arranged in horizontal alignment with respect to the end of the jet nozzle 36. In the arrangement, the end of the nozzle 36 is displaced rearwardly from the outer end of the opening 44 formed in the bushing 43 by a distance of at least 1", for a purpose more fully described hereinafter. The inner end of the bushing 43 disposed within the condensing chamber 22 carries a hollow baffle 45 that is substantially channel-shaped in cross-section including a top web 48 and a pair of depending side flanges 41. Finally a substantially rod-like target 48 is supported in the inner end of the bafile 45 upon the top web 46 by an arrangement including an eccentric pin 49 carried by the upper end of the target 48, the lower end of the target 48 being slotted, as indicated at 50, to accommodate ready rotation of the target 48 about the eccentric pin 49 and the consequent adjustment of the position of the target 48 with respect to the pair of spaced-apart side flanges 41 for the purpose of controlling the configuration of the spray of cool water in the condensing chamber 22. More particularly, the jet nozzle 36 is productive of a stream of cool water that is projected through the air gap between the end of the nozzle 36 and the outer end of the opening 44 formed in the bushing 43 and thence through the hole 44 and the baffle 45 onto the target 48. The upstanding rod-like target 48 breaks up this stream of cool water into a spray within the condensing chamber 22, which spray is arranged in two diverging upstanding sheets as indicated in Fig. 5. The two upstanding sheets 5! of the spray of cool water, as well as the side spray thereof, are directed generally from the rear of the condensing chamber 22 toward the front thereof so that the condensing chamber 22 is substantially completely filled with the spray of cool water from the rear end thereof to the front end thereof and between the baffle 18 and the bottom wall of the lower casing section ll in order positivel to insure cooling and thorough scrubbing of the current of air passing through the condensing chamber 22, in the manner previously explained.

The position of the target 48 between the depending side flanges 41 of the baflie 45 may be adjusted by rotation of the target 48 upon the cocentric pin 49 employing a screw driver, or the like, inserted into the slot 50, whereby the general configuration and disposition of the sheets 5| of the spray of cool water in the condensing chamber 22 may be appropriately adjusted to insure best cooling and scrubbing of the current of air passing therethrough. The top web 46 and the depending side flanges 41 of the baflie 45 em- 6 bracing the target 48 also insure that the spray of cool water issuing from the target 48 is forwardly directed in the condensing chamber 22 and of the desired configuration.

During the normal operation of the machine ID, the cool water under gauge pressure supplied to the inlet conduit 3| passes through the fixture 32, wherein any foreign material therein is strained therefrom, and thence via the flow control regulator 33 and the control valve 34 in its open position and through the tube 35 into the jet nozzle 35. The flow control regulator 33 is preferably of the flexible diaphragm compression aperture or throat type and is designed to maintain a substantially constant flow of the cool water therethrough of approximately 0.4 gal. per minute, notwithstanding considerable variation of the gauge pressure of the cool water supplied to the inlet conduit 3|. In the jet nozzle 36, the pressure head of the cool water is converted into a corresponding velocity head of the stream of cool water projected therefrom through the air gap and thence through the opening 44 and the baffle 45 onto the target 48. Now during the operating cycle of the machine ill, a pressure variation occurs occasionally in the condensing chamber 22, possibly due to the tumbling of the clothes 26 in the drum l2, whereby the pressure of the vapor therein momentarily exceeds the atmospheric pressure tending to cause a puff of the vapor to be expelled from the condensing chamber 22 through the opening 44 to the exterior of the casing H and within the enclosing housing, not shown. However, this tendency is overcome by the arrangement of the bushing 43 and the baiiie 45 carried thereby and extending from a position disposed adjacent to the rear wall of the casing H about the openin 44 formed in the bushing 43 and the target 48 disposed in the inner end of the bafiie 45, whereby no puffs of vapor escape from the condensing chamber 22 through the opening 44 to the exterior of the casing l.l during operation of the machine M. This composite construction and arrangement of the bushing 43, the baflie 45 and the target 48 is very advantageous in view of the fact that no vapor escapes through the opening 44 formed in the bushing 43 to the exterior to contact the cool parts of the housing, not shown, and enclosing the casing l l, thereby preventing the formation of condensate thereon and the consequent dripping of the condensate upon the floor of the laundry room in which the machine I0 is located.

During the operation of the machine I0, should the abnormal condition appear of a subatmospheric pressure of the water in the connected city water main there is a back-siphoning action through the inlet conduit 3i, since the control valve 34 occupies its open position at this time. However, there can be absolutely no backsiphoning of process water from the sump 27 formed in the lower portion of the condensing chamber 22 under the abnormal condition noted, by virtue of the open air gap that is provided exteriorly of the casing ll between the end of the jet nozzle 36 and the outer end of the opening 44 formed in the bushing 43. Specifically the end of the jet nozzle 36 is disposed at least 1" rearwardly of the adjacent surface of the base 40. as indicated generally in Fig. 2. Thus there is absolutely no possibility of back-siphoning of process water from the sump 2'! even though operation of the pump 29 should be arrested for an indefinite time interval, as ultimately the process water accumulating in the sump 21 would 7 flood the condensing chamber 22 and run out through the openin 44 in the bushing- 43 onto the floor of the laundry room in which the machine is located.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided in a clothes drying machine of the home laundry type and of the character described, an improved fixture that accomplishes the anti-back-siphoning function with respect to the city water main, the sprayformation function in the condensing chamber, and that prevents the escape of vapor from the condensing chamber to the exterior through the adjacent hole formed in the casing defining the condensing chamber.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a clothes drying machine including a substantially horizontally disposed and rotatably mounted drum adapted to receive clothes to be dried, means for rotating said drum in order to tumble the contained clothes, wall structure defining a passage communicating at the opposite ends thereof with two spaced-apart portions of said drum, said wall structure also defining first and second spaced-apart chambers in said passage, means for producing circulation of a current of air from said first chamber through said drum into contact with the contained clothes and thence into said second chamber and back into said first chamber, and means for heating said current of air as it is passed through said first chamber; the combination comprising an inlet conduit disposed exteriorly of said wall structure and normally supplied with cool water under gauge pressure, said wall structure having a hole formed therein adjacent to said second chamber, a baffle supported in said second chamber and having one end thereof disposed closely adjacent to said wall structure about said hole and the other end thereof spaced inwardly with respect to said wall structure, said baiiie being substantially channel-shaped in cross-section including a top web and a pair of depending side flanges, a target supported in said other end of said bafiie, said target being substantially rod-like, a nozzle connected to said inlet conduit and supported exteriorly of said wall structure and directed toward said hole at said target and arranged to project a stream of said cool water therefrom through an air gap and thence through said hole and said baffle onto said target, said target being arranged to break up said stream of said cool water projected thereonto into a finely divided spray of said cool water substantially completely filling said second chamber in order that said current of air is cooled and thoroughly scrubbed by said spray of said cool water as it is passed through said second chamber, said bafile being arranged to prevent the passage of any substantial amount of water vapor from said second chamber through said hole to the exterior of said wall structure, valve means for selectively controlling the supply of said cool water from said inlet conduit to said nozzle, said air gap disposed between said nozzle and said hole exteriorly of said wall structure being arranged to supply atmospheric air via said nozzle into said inlet conduit in the event of the abnormal condition of a subatmospheric pressure therein so as positively to prevent back-siphoning of process water from said second chamber into said inlet conduit, and a drain conduit communicating between the lower portion of said second chamber and the exterior of said wall structure.

2. In a clothes drying machine including a substantially horizontally disposed and rotatably mounted drum adapted to receive clothes to be dried, means for rotating said drum in order to tumble the contained clothes, wall structure defining a passage communicating at the opposite ends thereof with two spaced-apart portions of said drum, said wall structure also defining first and second spaced-apart chambers in said passage, means for producing circulation of a current of air from said first chamber through said drum into contact with the contained clothes and thence into said second chamber and back into said first chamber, and means for heating said current of air as it is passed through said first chamber; the combination comprising an inlet conduit disposed exteriorly of said wall structure and normally supplied with cool water under gauge pressure, said wall structure havin a hole formed therein adjacent to said second chamber, a bushing having an opening formed therethrough and supported in said hole so that the inner end thereof is disposed within said second chamber and the outer end thereof is disposed exteriorly of said wall structure, a baflie supported on the inner end of said bushing, said bafile substantially channel-shaped in cross-section including a top Web and a pair of depending side flanges, one end of said baffie being disposed about the inner end of said opening and the other end of said bafile projecting inwardly with respect to the inner end of said opening into said second chamber, a target supported in said other end of said baffle, said target being substantially rod-like, a nozzle connected to said inlet conduit and supported exteriorly of said wall structure and directed toward said opening at said target and arranged to project a stream of said cool water therefrom through an air gap and thence through said opening and through said baffle onto said target, said target being arranged to break-up said stream of said cool water projected thereonto into a finely divided spray of said cool water substantially completely filling said second chamber in order that said current of air is cooled and thoroughly scrubbed by said spray of said cool water as it is passed through said second chamber, said bushing and said baffle cooperating to prevent the passage of any substantial amount of water vapor from said second chamber through said openingto the exterior of said wall structure, valve means for selectively controlling the supply of said cool water from said inlet conduit to said nozzle, said air gap disposed between said nozzle and the outer end of said opening exteriorly of said wall structure being arranged to supply atmospheric air via said nozzle into said inlet conduit in the event of the abnormal condition of a subatmospheric pressure therein so as positively to prevent back-siphoning of process water from said second chamber into said inlet conduit, and a drain conduit communieating between the lower portion of said second chamber and the exterior of said wall structure.

3. The clothes drying machine combination set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a unitary bracket carried by said wall structure adjacent to said hole and supporting said nozzle and said bailie.

4. The clothes drying machine combination set forth in claim 1, and further comprising means for adjusting the supported position of said target in said other end of said bafiie in order to adjust the configuration of said spray of said cool Water formed by said target in said second chamber.

5. The clothes drying machine combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said rod-like target is disposed in an upstanding position and carried by said top Web and is arranged to break up said stream of said c001 Water projected thereonto into two diverging upstanding sheets of spray of said cool water in said second chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Stoddard July 29, 1941 Pugh Oct. 19, 1948 Pugh Nov. 16, 1948 Oliver Dec. 26, 1950 Briggs May 8, 1951 Woodruff Feb. 5, 1952 

